Welcome to the official CQUniversity Student Blog – CQUniLife. This blog follows the experiences of a diverse group of CQUniversity students from different countries, studying various programs and at various campuses throughout Australia.

CQUNI SPOTLIGHT – Featuring Paula Mandl

She’s a CQUniversity Townsville staff member by day and a Wonder Woman by night. Executive Assistant to Associate Vice-Chancellor Kari Arbouin and Townsville campus coordinator Paula Mandl idolises Wonder Woman, so much so she was recently spotted dressed as her favourite comic book character at the recent movie launch.

What was a recent highlight of your life?

I recently competed in the 2017 Townsville Festival of One Act Plays. My director friend asked me to be in a 40 minute one act play with her and we were very proud to walk away with three awards: Best Production, Best Director and Best Actress in the open section of the Festival.

What is the best thing about the Townsville CQUni campus?

Apart from the awesome people I work with, I would have to say the fact that we have a brand spanking new campus building – it still has that new car smell!

What’s the film you’ll never get sick of watching and why?

Wonder Woman, because the future of justice begins with her! I love Wonder Woman, the Lynda Carter version, the Justice League cartoons, the DC Comics and the new Gal Gadot version just cements it – I want to be Wonder Woman when I grow up.

What do you love the most about your role?

I love the variety of responsibilities I have. As an EA I enjoy working closely with Kari (she’s great) and as the campus coordinator on a small campus you end up wearing many different hats, so no day is ever the same.

If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

I would rather answer ‘which’ superhero would you be…umm, Wonder Woman of course! Who wouldn’t want to be an unconquerable Amazon warrior?

If you had no responsibilities where would you be right now?

Eating a bowl of pasta by the Trevi Fountain in Rome – my favourite city in the world.

What is a motto or phrase that you live by?

Fake it till you make it (it’s a confidence thing – I have used this mantra a lot before auditions).

What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

I have started back at the gym (thanks to the CQUniCares Six Week Challenge) and I am heavily involved in the local amateur theatre and Burlesque scene.

If your office was burning down, what would be the one thing you grabbed on your way out the door?

Apart from my phone (which is considered an extra appendage), it would be my Wonder Woman statuette that stands on my desk.